Index card



Jan. 3l, 1933. A A, CHAUWN `1,895,784

INDEX GARD Filed June 18, 1931 `Pater il:ed Jan. 31, 1933 'UNl'rED )STATES ANDR ANTINE CHAUVIN, or mais, FRANCE i INDEX CARD Application led June 18, 1931, Serial No.

This invention relates to card-indexes and the like of the type in which the cards are contained in shallow drawers or the like, so that the cards occupy horizontal or substantially horizontal planes and are superposed one above the other, and in which means are provided for spacing the superposed cards in such a manner that the lower portion `of one card projects a desired distance beyond the l cards that they are provided with integral 20 means for controlling the overlap between succeeding cards, that is the amount that the' lower card projects beyond the one immediately above 1t.

' A still further object is to provide each card with integral means for controlling the amount of overlap of suchl a nature that the amount of overlap can be varied within two limits, that is to say a card can be set so that the amount by which the card below itv projects can be a certain predetermined dimension, or another redetermined dimension.

Another object 1s tform the upper parts ofsuch cards with laterally projecting por-v tions Ifor engagement with grooves or the like in the side walls or equivalent parts of the containing drawers.

A further object is to provide such cards Y -with; means for facilitating their turning up, such for example as a row near to the upper portion, Aand for a still further obj ect vto form such cards with means f; carrying other cards, paper slips or the above and other; objects will appear in the following specification.

In order that the invention may be better understood it will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which so that the lower portions of the e so that this portion 4 is of'lessl width than of perforations Fig. 1 shows a somewhat diagrammatic per- 545,251, and in rraiiee December V17, 1930.

spective view'of an index card having two top folds arranged stepwise one above the other and illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 shows a fragmentary perspective 'mi View of an .upper portion of an index card according to another embodiment of the invention, and A l v Fig. 3 shows a similar view to Fig. 1 of a still further form. i GD.

Fig. 4 is a'face view of an index card in accordance with the invention. Fig. 5 is an end view of Fig. 4.

The Vcardv 'according to' Fig. 1-is formed from a thickness ofvstrong paper or the like and comprises a doubled portionl coming at the upper edge which is folded over and stuck together (the sticking together is not illustrated in the-drawing for the sake of clearness) Below the portion 1, the card is again doubled at the part marked V', the doubled portion being stuck together (this sticking together is not shown in the drawingf'for the sake of clearness) to form what may be termed a hookV or step' 2, the main 75 body 4 of the card extending below this hook 2'. A

The other portion of the card from the folded part 1 is doubled back on itself as shown at V in the drawings and stuck together to form a step or hook 3 as shown, which comes a desired distance D above the step or hook 2. i

The two lateral edges of the portion 4 forming the card proper are slightly cut away the upper part, so that these upper por-l tions project at the sides and can be utilized as guides for the card in lateral grooves provided in the sides-of the drawer.- Y e 5 are slits which may be provided in the body of the card 4to receive slips ofpaper or the like if desired.

6 is a'row of perforations coming just below the level of the lower edge of the portion V', for facilitating the turning up of the card, that is to say the perforations give a slight weakening to this portion of thecard, enabling it vto be turned up .and hinged around the line of .perforations As will be realized, the card proper can be made without the slits and if desired without the perforations 6, although the latter are preferably included.

'IE Figs. 4 and 5 show the shape of the card more clearly, the folded head portion 1 being extended laterally somewhat beyond the side of the card proper 4.

In Fig. 5, which is an end view, the head;

is constructed substantially as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing but after the parts have been stuck together,l the headv being folded substantially in the form of an inverted V.

One fold 2 of the card diverges from a position intermediate'of oneof the arms of the V and it will be understood that in assembling successive cards to forma card index, they can either be assembled' so-.that the head or outer apex of one card passes into the folded -20 portion 2 of the card, or alternatively it may pass to the folded apex 3 of the 'V, and in this AWay it is possible to obtain two different degrees of spacing of the successive cards. It will be understood that it is necessary. for the cards to be reversedl in order to obtain the di'erent spacings.

By this means it will be realized that not only is the overlap of the cards controlled by the cards themselves, but Mthafacerta'in adj ustment in this overlap is possible by the provision of the two spaced steps or hooks 2 and 3,

The drawer may be-lled with cardsI according to requirements, the overlap bein B5 arranged according tothe hook 2 o r 3 of eac particular card placed inpos'ition, and when the drawer is filled, it willbe realized that the bottom portions of all the cards therein can readily be seen. '4o The card shown in Fig. 2is substantially similar to that shown in' Fig. 1, with the exception that it is formed from apsingle thickness doubled upon itself, the upper part 'ving the two portions V and V which de ne l the spaced steps 2 and 3.

Again, in Fig. 3, the construction is similar to Fig. 1, with the exception that the portion V is formed from a single thickness, the step 3- being constituted where the portion V joins the 4upper doubled together.

The invention is not limited to the precise yforms or details of construction described, as these may be varied to suit particular cases.

portion 1 which is stuck eWhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States of America 1s 1. A card for card indexes of the type setA forth, formed with two folded portions, the fold of one of which is spaced from the upper edge a desired distance and the fold o f the other of which is spaced from the upper edge a different desired distance, each said folded portion forming a hook adapted to engage with the upper edge of the next succeedforth.

ing card to determine the amount of overlap etvleen the twocards, for the purposes set ort 2. A card for card indexes as claimed in claim 1, in which one of the folded ortions comes'on one side of the card and t e other folded portion on the other side of the cardv and in which the upper portion of the card projects laterally to a slight extent on each side beyond the lower portion, for the pur-` poses set forth.

3. A card for card indexes as claimed inl claim 1, in which one of the folded portions c'omes on one side of the card and the other folded portion on the other side' of the card, the upper portion of the card rejecting laterally to a slight extent on eac side beyond the lower portion, and in which a, row of i perforations is provided in the card just below the lower edge of the lower hook, for the purposes set forth.

4. A card for card indexes as claimed in claim 1, in which one of the folded portions comes on one side of the card andthe other folded portion on the other side of the card, the upper portion of the card projecting laterally to a slight extent on each side beyond the lower portion, a row of erforations being provided in the card just elow the lower edge of the lower hook, and in whichl the lower portion of the card is formed with slits to receive -verted V, the card proper diverging from one arm of said V at an intermediate position, whereby the head ,of a succeeding card may enter 'said head up to the apex of the V or` up to the position where the card proper diverges from the arm of the V.l

In witness whereof I aiix my signature.

ANDR ANTOINE CHAUVIN.

paper slips, for the purposes set. 

